Al-Haadi v04n05

It is that time of the year when thousands of people will be flocking to the Mubarak lands of Makkatul Mukarramah and Madinatul Munawwarah for the performance of Umrah and Ziyaarah. Indeed, it is very encouraging to note that the trend of spending thousands of rands on idle holidays overseas is gradually fading. Instead many people are now opting to spend their money to perform the tremendously great ibadah of Umrah. May Allah Ta’ala accept their Umrah and make it a means of guidance for one and all. Aameen.

While those blessed with this excellent opportunity are extremely fortunate, nevertheless it is important to fully appreciate the significance of this noble journey. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “The Haji and the person going for Umrah are the delegations of Allah. If they ask, it will be granted to them. If they seek forgiveness, they will be forgiven” (Ibn Majah). It is also recorded in Sahih Muslim that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Umrah in Ramadhaan is like performing Haj with me!” Subhanallah! What an absolutely excellent journey this is.

If one’s feet slip, it can be extremely dangerous. One could lose one’s balance and fall. This could result in fractured bones, perhaps even a heart attack. Undoubtedly these are serious consequences. However, these effects of the slip of the feet can never compare to the harm that can ensue from the slip of the tongue. It can result in several people suffering a heart attack. When the tongue slips, it pierces hearts, breaks marriages, splits families, estranges bosom friends and results in a host of other social evils. The soft and fleshy tongue can cause a wound far worse than the wound of the hard teeth. As a poet says: “The wound of the sword will heal - But the wound of the tongue will not.”

The extent to which the Shariah detests the extremely abhorrent crime of zina is evident from the punishment that has been stipulated for it. An unmarried person found guilty of this crime will be given eighty lashes. A married person will be stoned to death. Aside from the Shar’i punishment, every straight thinking person abhors this evil totally. If the person guilty of this evil is exposed, he becomes disgraced in society. The parents of such a person, who has been exposed, will not have the courage to face society. Yes. Zina is a terrible deed. Everybody rightly regards it as such.

However, there is something worse than zina. It is worse than that evil which is punishable with eighty lashes or stoning to death. It has been declared to be worse by none other than Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Yet, despite the fact that it is worse than zina, it goes on all the time. The whole family engages in it together. It is a favourite past time for many. It continues even in the Musjid. It does not even stop in Ramadhaan. People indulge in it even while sitting directly in front of the Ka’ba Shareef. The camps of Mina and the plains of Arafaat are also not free of it . . . The list goes on and on.

Hazrath Ka’b bin Ujrah (radhiallahu anhu) relates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) once said: “Come closer to the mimbar.” We came closer. When Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) placed his foot on the first step of the mimbar he said “Aameen” when he ascended the second step he again said “Aameen” and likewise on the third step. When Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had completed delivering his sermon and descended the pulpit, we enquired from him: “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), today we have heard from you something which we have never heard before.” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When I ascended the first step, Jibra’eel (alaihis salaam) appeared before me and said: “May that person be destroyed who is alive in the month of Ramadhaan and yet he did not gain forgiveness. I said “Aameen” (may it be accepted). When I ascended the second step, he said: “May that person be destroyed in front of whom your name is taken and he does not send durood upon you. I said “Aameen.” When I reached the third step, he said: “May that person be destroyed whose parents or one of them attains old-age in his lifetime and he does not gain entrance into Jannah through them and I said “Aameen.”

Crime, anarchy, natural calamities and other difficulties prevail all around us. What is the reason for this? As Mu’mineen (Believers) we are duty bound to look for the answers of all things in the Qur’an and Hadith. From the various verses of the Qur’an and the numerous Ahadith that clearly indicate to us the reasons, hereunder one hadith is quoted:

Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has mentioned that when immodesty will become rife, people will be hit by plagues, epidemics and strange new diseases which their forefathers had never heard of. When people will cheat in weight and measure, they will be overtaken by famine, price-hikes and oppressive rulers. When zakaat will not be paid, rains will be withheld. When people will break their covenant (of being true Muslims) with Allah and His Messenger (sallalahu alaihi wasallam), then Allah Ta’ala will make alien enemies dominant over them. These enemies will snatch away their belongings from them without justification. When judgement will not be passed in any matter in accordance to the book of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala will cause mutual hatred to creep into the hearts and people will become embroiled in disputes (Ibn Majah).